Box Score
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. ? Western Michigan used a second period push to beat the Lake Superior State Lakers, 3-1, in front of 2,272 fans at Taffy Abel Arena on Friday night for its fifth straight victory.
After Lake Superior State (16-16-3, 10-14-3 CCHA) scored an early goal in the first period Paul Szczechura and Mark Letestu each scored a goal in the second period to give the Broncos (17-15-1, 14-12-1 CCHA) the lead and the win. Letestu would later add an empty net goal late in the third period to make the score 3-1.
The Broncos killed off all 10 Laker power play chances and Riley Gill, improving to 12-6-1 on the season, made 29 saves en route to the Bronco victory.
LSSU struck on its first shot of the game when Ryan Baird and Simon Gysbers found Josh Sim for his 15th goal of the season, beating Gill on his glove side.
The Broncos' best scoring chances of the first period came on shots by Jason Moul and Szczechura. Moul's shot came within the first two minutes but he was unable to convert in front of the net. Szczechura's came during a Bronco power play on a pass from Letestu but he too was stoned by Jeff Jakaitis.
WMU was forced to fend off a five-on-three advantage for 13 seconds in the first period but was able to kill off the first portion of the attack from the Lakers. Dominic Osman had a wide open net with six seconds remaining in the period but Gill was able to recover and make the save, sending the Broncos into the locker room down, 1-0.
After killing off two early penalties and only having one shot on goal through the first half of the second period, Chris Frank fired the puck but it was blocked by a Laker defensemen. The rebound kicked out to Szczechura who had an empty half of the net, beating Jakaitis on his glove side for the Broncos' first goal of the game, and his 15th of the season, at the 13:03 point.
Minutes later Letestu took a pass from Jeff Pierce and fired it on goal, Jakaitis made the save but allowed a rebound that just missed going in.
The Broncos would get their first power play opportunity when Dan Eves was called for cross-checking at the 16:52 mark in the second period. At the 18:19 mark Ryan Mahrle and Szczechura found Letestu on the left side of the net. Letestu fired it past Jackaitis for his team-leading 19th goal of the season and the Broncos' second goal in the period, giving WMU the lead, 2-1.WMU killed off five Laker power play chances in the second period, while scoring their two goals on just eight shots.
Late in the third period the Lakers were mounting an attack when Gill lost his stick. He was able to fend off four shots by LSSU until Frank was able to clear the puck to draw an icing call.
Frank was called for a contact to the head cross-checking penalty with 1:24 left to go in the third period. LSSU pulled their goalie at the 1:24 mark to give them a six-on-four advantage. Campbell sent the puck in on goal but it was frozen in front of the net and cleared by the Broncos. With 53 seconds remaining in the game Steve Silver found Letestu at the Bronco blue line and he fired it down the ice into the net for an empty net goal, his 20th of the season.
The Broncos will look to finish the season with their sixth straight victory on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Taffy Abel Arena.
